“As the pool emptied on a beautiful afternoon, the dogs, ranging from Tux, Amanda Kesterson’s feisty Boston Terrier, to Dex, and immense black Great Dane/Labrador cross brought to check out the fun by Zander and Alex Adams, played in the water and socialized with each other,” Seegar said.

Seven years ago, pool director Friskie Lambert agreed with PAWS to allow the doggie cruise-in as the pool drained for the winter.

The town pool is raising funds for ongoing upkeep and welcomes events in cooperation with local organizations, such as seniors, those looking for more outdoor and fitness activities and veterans groups, Seegar said.

Dex, owned by Zander and Alex Adams, gets a toweling off by doggie mom Amanda Adams.

PAWS is a non-profit group incorporated by local volunteers in 2006 to provide help for stray, lost or abused county animals. Along with providing interim shelter for stray companion animals, PAWS provides medical care, vaccinations and sterilization of all animals prior to adoption or rescue; provides the same for caught and released feral cats that have caretakers and want no more kittens; strives to place animals in permanent and loving homes; or transports them to more populated area shelters or into foster care until adoption.

The lack of a shelter is a real hardship with PAWS making do with dedicated volunteer foster homes to keep dogs and cats until PAWS gets them into further rescue or adoption.

“The pet rescue volunteers are very busy during this kitten season with raising, providing veterinary care and finding adoptive homes for the dozens of unwanted kittens and puppies born here in the spring and fall,” Seegar said. “Please spay and neuter your pets and call PAWS when you need help to do so at 304-358- DOGG(3644).”

From 2008 to late August 2018, PAWS has neutered more than 1,700 privately owned cats. From 2010, when PAWS started the dog neuter/spay program, until 2016 580 dogs were neutered.

This summer’s initiative to utilize a 1:2 matching grant from the state meant that PAWS raised $5,000 to receive $10,000 more from the WV Spay-Neuter Program.

Kate, owned by Susan and Nathaniel Vincell, dives into the Franklin Town Pool.

“A great cooperative effort including pet owners, volunteers, Faithful Friends Animal Clinic and Anicira resulted in the successful spend-down of the funding to neuter over 300 county dogs and cats. If county pet owners continue to be so responsive and responsible, working together, we can dramatically slow down the overpopulation of unwanted pets that has been a cause for concern here over the years,” Seegar said.

PAWS is very much in need of volunteers to foster kittens and dogs and to help drive pets to new homes, veterinary care, and rescue.

Volunteers are welcome to help with fundraising events, such as the Fun Dog Show, the Dog Swim, the Christmas Bazaar, a summer-long flea market sale held in Franklin, Bingo and a spring Spayghetti Dinner Seegar said. A newsletter editor and grant researcher would also be highly welcomed, Seegar said.

“Top of the list, PAWS is always looking for a suitable donation of land or a building for a shelter,” Seegar added.

Those interested in PAWS can call 304-358-DOGG (3644); open facebook to pendleton animal welfare, go to www.pendletonpawswv.com, or attend PAWS Annual Meeting in October.